Islanders’ Barzal fined $5K for slash on Marchment that drew praise from teammates

The New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal was fined $5,000 on Monday for his slash on Columbus Blue Jackets winger Mason Marchment in Sunday’s game between their two teams.

The Islanders made it clear postgame the team was more than okay with Barzal taking himself out of Sunday’s loss to the with a major penalty for the two-handed slash.

Barzal’s swing at the ankle of Marchment came in the second period of the 4-2 defeat after the Blue Jackets forward appeared to deliver a knee-on-knee it to rookie Matthew Schaefer. Marchment, who received a two-minute minor after a review on the hit, was previously penalized for roughing on Schaefer just over a minute into the game.

“We thought it was a knee-on-knee,” Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said postgame. “We’re never going to blame a teammate [for] going and trying to defend a teammate [...] I like the response by Barzy.”

“I absolutely love that out of Mathew Barzal,” forward Cal Clutterbuck added.

Marchment was playing in just his third game with the Blue Jackets Sunday after being acquired just ahead of the NHL’s roster freeze from the Seattle Kraken. He has amassed 34 penalty minutes over 32 games this season with the two teams.

He admitted the contact on Schaefer was regrettable.

“I’m kind of used to it by now,” Marchment said. “It’s part of my game to try to get in the other teams’ head a little bit. You know, I was never trying to hurt him there in the middle, just get in his way. Probably not smart by me.”

Marchment has seven goals and 17 points this season.

The Islanders and Blue Jackets will next meet again after the Olympic break on Feb. 28.